PATRICK HENRY GETTY

May 30th, 1937 - November 9th, 2021

Age 84

Pat Getty passed away on November 9th, 2021, finally ending his battle with dementia. His suffering is over, and he is back in the arms of his beloved Joy, his wife of 42 years.

Pat was born the youngest son to David and Violet Getty in Shelton, Washington in 1937. He was named after his grandfather who immigrated to the Shelton area from Ontario, Canada. He was the youngest of two older brothers, John David Getty and Calvin Roy Getty. As youngsters, they were known around town as the "Getty boys". As the youngest, Pat kept up with his brothers, took over the garden chores from his brother Cal and chopped the wood his brother John had taught him to do. Once the older brothers left home, Pat became the "only child". So, it wasn't until his later adult years, that the brothers re-connected and shared memories of growing up in Shelton and shared in family events and sightseeing trips between Pat and Joy's home on Camano Island and brother Cal's home in Manzanita, Oregon. Brother John passed away in 1997, and Cal sadly passed away shortly after Pat on November 26th, 2021.

Pat graduated from Irene S. Reed high school in Shelton in 1955 and attended Western Washington University. Pat remained active with his High School classmates and he and Joy traveled to Shelton for most, if not all reunions and gatherings until very recently. He was known as a wonderful pal and encourager to all his classmates. If anyone was feeling down for any reason, Pat would take it upon himself to cheer them up and help in any way he could. One classmate said, "Pat was one in a million, the kind of guy we were all drawn to for his smile and warmth". Pat was a big part of this groups' school spirit throughout the early years and beyond and was even a groomsman in his dear friend Roy's wedding, who he grew up with since kindergarten. Roy was also a groomsman in Pat's first wedding when he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Linton, in 1958. Pat and Phyllis raised four children together in the Seattle area until their divorce in 1979.

Pat cared deeply about family history and traditions. He and his brother Cal bought and took care of the "Getty House" in Shelton where Getty families continued to live. The home is a historical monument in Shelton and is still operational. He and Cal also bought a gravestone for their grandmother, Elizabeth Sarah Johnstone (Violet's mother) who died young at the age of 27 from a horse and buggy accident in 1915. The gravesite is at the Lopez Union Cemetery on Lopez Island, Washington.

Pat worked at a variety of professions including owning a Dairy Queen in Shelton in the early 60s and trying his hand at construction work in Alaska. He soon ventured back to Seattle and began a long career in carpet and floor covering sales. His work took him to all parts of the Pacific Northwest where his charismatic personality and fun-loving ways earned him great success in sales as well as many friends. He worked hard, he was joyful, kind, and grateful.

Pat was a wonderful and proud father who taught his kids to ride a bike, drive, garden, pitch a tent, build a fire (perhaps if only to "stand back") and have a great work ethic. He took all 4 kids to Disneyland in the 70s, packed into the station wagon and listening to Buck Owens, Charlie Pride, Johnny Cash and now again Steve Miller Band on the 8-track. The kids became a well-oiled machine at setting up and taking down the tent trailer and finding the next KOA campground. He took his kids to Mariners games at the Kingdome (back in the day) and enjoyed the Seahawks and Mariners throughout his life.

In 1979 Pat met and married Joy Land, and they moved to the Camaloch Golf community on Camano Island where they built 2 beautiful homes together. Pat was a passionate golfer and loved to host his family and friends for golfing get-togethers, and even turned it official by hosting the "Pat Getty Open" for several years running at the Camaloch Golf course where he put on a "competitive" golf match for friends and colleagues; his daughters catering the events. Pat and Joy hosted and attended countless family reunions both on the Getty side as well as Land. Family was everything to them and they travelled across the country several times to meet up with distant relatives. Pat and Joy shared 42 loving years together where they golfed, entertained, travelled, and enjoyed an amazing circle of friends both in the community and church.

Pat had an easy-going way about him, and he enjoyed making people happy and helping out in any way he could. He was an active member of the Camaloch Association and took care of the chalet and anything else that needed attention. He was an active and grateful member of his church where he and Joy volunteered at the food bank and many other events. Along with golfing, Pat also enjoyed gardening, crabbing (and loaning his boat to others to crab), and beautifying his home. But nothing made him happier than when his family was around…the kids, grand-kids, and great grandkids. Pat was the doting Papa and Grandpa who showed up to all the school functions, graduations, baseball games, karate tournaments, band performances and piano recitals, near and far. He loved to celebrate all the birthdays and milestones, and he dressed up as Santa at Christmastime and sang in the church choir. Pat was kind, joyful and funny, and always had a smile or a funny quip for everyone. He will be dearly missed.

Pat is pre-deceased by his daughter, Michelle Getty (2003) and his wife Joy Getty (January 2021) and is survived by his children and their families: Lisa and Wade Jackson, Erin and DeVante Botello and Joe and Stevie, Jolynn and Eric Carpenter and Dylan, Maria and Jason Getty and Jacob, Chris and Betty Huddleson, Amy and Travis Hurdlow and Gracelyn, Jordan and Savannah, Sarah McGrath and Emma.

Special thanks to his caregivers at the Mill Creek Cottages; Shelly, Lexi, Tammy and Kathy and everyone else who loved and put up with him.

The celebration of life will be held 11:00 A.M. June 1, 2022, at the Camano Chapel,867 S West  Camano Dr. Camano Island,WA 98282

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association | Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia or Camano Chapel • Camano Island, WA